New York Giants : Race is on to Fill Safety Position

Antrel Rolle signed a three-year contract worth $11.25 million with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday night. While Rolle’s departure from the New York Giants was foreseeable given the organization’s interest in obtaining a young and ascending player, much like Rolle was when the team signed him five years ago, it has left the New York Giants with a huge hole to fill at safety.

If the Giants are interested in addressing the gap in their secondary, they better move fast as two of the four free agent safeties in which the team expressed interest in were snatched up fairly quickly. New England Patriot Devin McCourty resigned with his former team and former Denver Bronco Rahim Moore signed with the Houston Texas. That leaves the New York Giants with two safeties left on their radar as viable options for filling Rolle’s shoes on the team: Kansas City Chief Ron Parker and Baltimore Raven Darian Stewart.

More from New York Giants

Kansas City Chiefs Ron Parker

Ron Parker spent time on the rosters of the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks after going undrafted out of Newberry College and before landing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Parker started 15 out of 16 games. He finished the season recording 94 tackles (84 of them being solo tackles, the team high), 12 passes defended, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.

The Giants are looking for a young, versatile, and ascending safety. Parker checks off a lot of what the organization is looking for. Coming off a breakout season, Parker is only 27-years-old, the same age that Antrel Rolle was when he signed with the Giants five years ago, and is looking to keep his momentum rolling.

This momentum could be exactly what the New York Giants’ need in replacing Rolle. Furthermore, Parker played both safety and cornerback last season. This versatility not only boosts his appeal but also would prove to be a valuable investment on the Giants’ part since it would allow them to change their play calls and keep their opponents on their toes.

Baltimore Ravens Darian Stewart

Another player on the Giants’ radar is Darian Stewart. While not quite as high on their radar as Ron Parker, Stewart is still a good option for the team. For one, he’s already familiar with Steve Spagnuolo’s playing calling since they were both with the Baltimore Ravens last season. Stewart started 14 out of 16 games with the Ravens last season and recorded 53 tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble. In his best season, which came while he was with the St. Louis Rams, Stewart played in 15 games and finished with 84 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and one touchdown.

The New York Giants are very thin at their safety position. Out of the three starting safeties on the team last season, Antrel Rolle is definitely not returning to the team. It is yet to be determined whether either or both of the two other starting safeties will re-sign with the Giants.

However, even if Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps return, the loss of Rolle could be very detrimental to the team considering his rare capability of being a dynamic playmaker on the field and his leadership role in the locker room. Both Ron Parker and Darian Stewart can fit well into the Giants’ secondary but time is of the essence and the Giants must grab one of these guys before another team does.

The New York Giants may be hoping to get lucky with the 2015 Draft but the time to fill their hole at safety is now. The Giants are on the clock. Will they make the most of their time?

Next: What's next for Giants in free agency?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/New York Giants